Citu have started on-site at ‘Stall’; a new community of 51 low carbon, high performance, low energy homes which will transform forgotten brownfield land in the historic area of Kirkstall in Leeds, with a pioneering approach to placemaking that puts people and the climate first.
Located on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, ‘Stall’ will be a new sustainable place designed to support the fabric, urban grain and context of the site, encouraging nature to flourish within an urban setting.
The canal-side location includes a precious green corridor that passes Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve and the famous Kirkstall Abbey, an easy route for cycling (13 minutes) and walking (40 minutes) straight into the heart of central Leeds. ‘Stall’ will feature 4-bed ‘Canal Houses’, 1 and 2-bed ‘Loft Apartments’ and 2-bed Gatehouse Apartments.
Jonathan Wilson, Managing Director of Citu, said: “We’re continuing to rip up the rule books which make outdated assumptions about how to design for the ways people enjoy living.
“It’s a bold statement but we want to change the world and with our design team, factory and community of residents located on one site in Leeds at the Climate Innovation District, we’re constantly observing, listening, learning and evolving our designs.
“‘Stall’ is an exciting extension of the principles we’ve developed on our journey to challenge the norms, enabling residents to live more sustainably, in healthy and inspiring places that they can call home.”
The name ‘Stall’ is a nod to the origins of Kirkstall which is formed from ‘stall’ meaning ‘place’ and ‘Kirk’ the historic word for ‘church’ – a reference to the area’s 800-year-old Kirkstall Abbey, one of the most complete examples of a medieval Cistercian abbey in Britain, now the architectural centrepiece of a public park.
Work on the scheme has now begun with the first homes ready to move into in early 2023. The homes will be built using passive house standards.